Museums

* The İstanbul Archaeological Museums: The Museum is housing various artifacts from civilizations that had left their traces to different periods of the history, is one of the 10 most important world-class museums designed and used as a museum building. Open daily between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm except Monday. Visit http://www.istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr for more information.

* Hagia Sophia Museum: Hagia Sophia is the one of the most visited museums and most prominent monuments in the world in terms of art and the history of architecture. It has also been called “the eighth wonder of the world” by East Roman Philon as far back as the 6th century. The current Hagia Sophia is the third construction, done in a different architectural style, even though it occupies the same location as the previous two. The original building was constructed by the most important architects of the period (527-565), Anthemios (Tralles) and Isidoros (Miletus), under the order of Emperor Justinianos. It is mentioned in the resources that during its construction period, the two prominent architects each had 100 architects working under them, who in turn had 100 workers each working under them. visit http://www.ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr

* Chora Museum: Originally the main church of the Chora monastery, the building now known as the Kariye Museum, or traditionally as the Kariye Camii (Mosque), represents one of the oldest and most important religious foundations of Byzantine Constantinople. The mosaics and frescoes in the Chora are the most beautiful examples dating from the last period of the Byzantine painting (14th century). Open daily between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm except Wednesday. Visit: http://www.choramuseum.com for more information.

* Basilica Cistern: Constructed for Justinianus I, the Byzantium Emperor (527-565), the great reservoir is referred to as the Basilica Cistern among the public because of the marble columns that rise underwater and appear as if innumerable. The cistern is 140 m long, and 70 m wide, and covers a rectangular area as a giant structure. Accessible with 52-step staircase, the cistern shelters 336 columns, each of which is 9 m high. Erected at 4.80 m intervals from one another the columns are composed of 12 rows, each has 28 columns. Covering 9,800 sqm area in total, the cistern has an estimated water storage capacity of 100,000 tons. Except couple of the edged and grooved columns of the cistern, majority of them are shaped as a cylinder. Two Medusa head, which are used as supports under the two columns at the northwest edge of the cistern, are the great work of art from the Roman period. http://yerebatan.com/homepage

* Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts: This Ottoman palace on the western edge of the Hippodrome was built in 1524 for İbrahim Paşa, childhood friend, brother-in-law and grand vizier of Suleyman the Magnificent. Recently reopened after a major restoration, it has a magnificent collection of artcrafts, including exquisite examples of calligraphy and one of the world’s most impressive collections of antique carpets. Open daily between 9:30am – 4:30 pm except Monday.

* Sakıp Sabancı Museum: Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum presents a versatile museological environment with its rich permanent collection, the comprehensive temporary exhibitions that it hosts, its conservation units, model educational programs and the various concerts, conferences and seminars held there. Visit http://www.sakipsabancimuzesi.org for more information.

* Pera Museum: Inaugurated on 8 June 2005, Pera Museum is a private museum founded by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation. The aim of offering an outstanding range of diverse high quality culture and art services is as important today as when the Museum first opened its doors to the public. Visit http://www.peramuzesi.org.tr for more information.

* Innocent Museum: The Museum of Innocence is both a novel by Orhan Pamuk and a museum he has set up. The novel was published in 2008, the museum opened in Spring 2012. Visit : http://www.masumiyetmuzesi.org

* Istanbul Modern Museums: It is the first and only Modern Arts museum in Istanbul. It’s housed at renovated old docks in Karaköy district facing Topkapi Palace, with a rich library, exhibitions, photograph gallery, sculpture courtyard, movie theater, cafe and souvenir shop. One can find in this private museum almost everything on modern Turkish Arts. Open daily between 10:00am – 6:00pm except Monday. Visit http://www.istanbulmodern.org/en for more information.

* Rahmi Koç Museum: The Rahmi M Koç Museum is the first major museum in Turkey dedicated to the history of Transport, Industry and Communications. Housed in magnificent buildings – themselves prime examples of industrial archaeology – on the shore of the historic Golden Horn, the collection contains thousands of items from gramophone needles to full size ships and aircraft. Visit http://www.rmk-museum.org.tr for more information.

* Miniatürk: is also named as the “Showcase of Turkey”, where you can find many important structures of Turkey in small scales, models of architectural masterpieces representing the Anatolian and Ottoman civilizations. Open daily between 9:00am-7:00pm. Visit miniaturk.com.tr for more information.